Brendan Rodgers: I did not want to sign Mario Balotelli for Liverpool

U-TURN: Brendan Rodgers had previously insisted he had full control over Liverpool's transfers

The former Kop boss revealed the transfer committee at the club would make the decision as a group.

"It was a group decision, really," Rodgers said when asked on Goals on Sunday this morning if he had final say.

"It was certainly not something I would have the sole or final say on. It’s difficult really.

"When there is a list of players and the player that you want isn’t on that list, you have to take someone.

"You can’t have no players.

"If you haven’t got a left-back, if the left-back that you want, for whatever reason, you can’t bring in, if there is a list of three or four, you are having to take the best on that group. It’s the model. It’s about the young player."

Rodgers had always insisted he did have final say on players but has now gone back on that claim.

He also claimed he did not want to sign Mario Balotelli in the summer of 2014 but felt he was left with no other option after Luis Suarez left for Barcelona and they only signed Rickie Lambert.

Balotelli’s move to Anfield was a disaster and he scored just four goals before being loaned back to AC Milan.

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“It was a group decision, really”

Brendan Rodgers

Rodgers said: "I mentioned that [he would never sign] after we had played AC Milan in a friendly in America.

"What we wanted and what we needed was a player who could really press at the top end of the field. It wasn’t just a goalscorer we were after.

"Luis Suarez was giving us so much more than that. That ability to press was something we wanted to work.

After the AC Milan game, I was asked a question and I felt Mario was someone who wouldn’t work for us, the profile of what we were after.

"But come the end of the summer, we were struggling to get someone who could do the role we wanted.

"I think the ownership group thought that this could be a player I could develop.

"He had had his issues, Mario. Mario has got wonderful talent. Make no mistake about that.

"You see him on the training ground every day, 6ft 3ins, he is fast, he is strong and he has got a touch.

"They were thinking that maybe he is a £50m player that we can get for £16m. We can bring him in and we can develop him in the way I had developed some of the other players.

"So, when the owners are wanting you to go down that route and there is no other options, then of course you give it a go."

Rodgers was sacked by Liverpool in October following their 1-1 draw with neighbours Everton at Goodison Park.

Liverpool had a poor start to the season after finishing sixth in the previous campaign.

The Reds almost won the Premier League title in 2014 under Rodgers but Manchester City beat them to top spot.

Rodgers said: "The opportunity to be the manager at Liverpool for three years was a real privilege.

"You don’t probably understand how big it is until you are in.

"You are under scrutiny like never before. It takes a year to get used to. The history of club is unique."

Rodgers is expected to stay out of work until the summer but admitted he would think about taking an offer from abroad if it comes.

The former Swansea boss said: "It is something I would consider.

"I have had a few offers since I have been out to go abroad and at home. I wanted to take time out.

"Wherever you go you have to go to win. It doesn’t matter where you go, but you have to have a chance of winning, that is something that drives you."